Calf weaner



March 4, 1958 A. C. EDMING CALF WEANER Filed may 15, 1956 22 26 a 22 Arnold G. Edming 6 26 INVENTOR.

Z8 BY CALF WEANER Arnold C. Edming, Glen Flora, Wis.

Application May 15, 1956, Serial No. 584,922

2 Claims. (Cl. 119-132) The present invention relates to a structurally improved calf weaner which is so designed and constructed that it serves its intended weaning purposes more satisfactorily and effectively than prior adaptations either known or currently available to the trade.

In carrying out the principles of the concept a conformable nose plate is provided. said plate having integral prongs and means being provided for mounting the same on the users nose, whereby the over-all weaner is adaptable to fit all prospective wearers thereof.

Another aspect of the invention has to do with a construction which is adjustable and self-locking and therefore adaptable to the nose of the individual animal wearing it. The adjustable feature of fitting the weaner to the animals nose forms a rigid attachment to the nose and thus prevents self-sucking. It is the experience of animal husbandry that all calf weaners now on the market fail to prevent self-sucking, as evidenced by letters and answers in Hards Dairyman. This device is very effective to stop self-sucking since it fits securely once applied to the animals nose, and in addition thereto it fits securely and high upon the animals nose thus limiting interference with normal feeding.

Not only does the invention lend itself to adaptable use on all sizes of cattle, it fits rigidly, cannot get lost, and does not in any manner interfere with grazing and feeding. In addition it is light in weight and is easy to apply and remove.

Other objects, features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying sheet of drawings.

In the drawings wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation showing the calf weaner and how it is constructed and used.

Figure 2 is a perspective view on a somewhat larger scale showing the components before they are assembled to assume the usable relationship seen in Figure 3.

Figure 3 is an enlarged view with the parts connected and in use.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 44 of Figure 3.

Referring now to the drawings with the aid of reference numerals the rigid sheet metal or equivalent nose plate is denoted by the numeral 6 and has a straight-edged upper portion 8 and a generally ovate body portion. The

. lower edge is fashioned into a curvate lip 10 which is conformable, generally speaking, to the portions of the nose of the animal adapted to be contacted thereby. The end portions form rounded cars 12. There are inner holes 14 to accommodate the U-shaped adapter and fastener 16. Outer holes 18 are for a larger sized U- shaped adapter. The adapter is preferably formed of bendable wire and the bight portion is straight across and is denoted at 20 and the arms are denoted at 22 and these have pointed free ends 24 for the purposes to be described.

In actual practice the weaner is put up and sold with Unite States Patent;

, 5, 04 Patented Mar. '4, 1958 two' of the U-shaped adapters or s'o called -U'-shaped rods '16. There will be a small one for calves and young stock. There will also be a larger one for Yheifers and cows. Reverting to the plate it will be seen that the upper straight-edged portion is provided with a pair of forwardly divergent fingers which are bent and are also bendable at the points 26 and said fingers are pointed and provide pain inflicting spurs or prongs as is selfevident.

In using the device it is necessary to first apply the U-shaped adapter 16 while it is in the U-shaped (Fig. 2) form and, in doing so, one of the limbs 22 is placed at right angles to the partition 30 in the nose of the animal as shown in dotted lines in Figure 3. That is to say, by holding the limbs so that they are at right angles, one of the pointed limbs is pushed through the partition and out through the nostril and the adapter is then turned bodily so that the bight portion 20 now extends at right angles to the partition and the limbs extend parallel to the partition. That is to say, the U-shaped adapter is applied somewhat in the manner of a bull ring. When it is in position the nose plate is ready to be applied. The holes in the plate selected depend on whether the large or small U-shaped adapter has been utilized and then the plate is pressed up and slid over the limbs and the limbs are bent at right angles as is brought out in Figure 3. Manifestly, the bending step serves to adjustably clamp and firmly bind the plate against the exterior surface or tip of the nose. The outstanding limbs become additional spurs and operate in conjunction with the prongs 28. The instructions are to push the nose plate up to the nose firmly and bend the prongs so that they point away from each other. Manifestly, this locks the weaner in place and makes it effective in any direction the animal may suck.

As already mentioned the weaner is regarded as effective on self-suckers. To this end, the prongs of the U- shaped rods are directed slightly downward so as to be sure that the weaner is firm on the nose and so that the cow cannot move it out of her way.

The use of the plate in combination with the U-shaped adapter whereby the two cooperate in providing the desired slack take-up and adjustable clamping function, is unique in weaners.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A calf weaner comprising an apertured nose plate adapted to rest firmly against the nose of the wearer, the upper center portion of said plate having marginal edge portions provided with a pair of laterally and forwardly directed pointed prongs, said prongs being spaced apart a predetermined distance from each other and being formed of bendable material so that they may be manually bent and angularly directed relative to the plane of the plate in whatever manner the individual requirements call for, and means for attaching and adjustably mounting the plate in a usable position on the wearers nose, said means comprising a rod which, when applied to use passes through the partition of the animals nose and has limbs on which the plate is adjustably and clampingly mounted, said limbs having pointed free end portions and passing through the apertures which are provided therefor in said plate and having a bend at their places of cooperation with the plate, whereby the bends thus 3 provided and plate provide means for adjustably anchoring and clamping the plate on the animals' nose in the manner desired.

2. A calf weaner comprising a plate having a body portion marginally provided with selectively usable holes and also provided with marginal laterally directed pointed prongs, and :a U-shaped adapter and attaching means for said plate comprising a bight portion having limbs passing through the desired holes in said body and having I a bend intermediate their ends and cooperatively joined with said plate, whereby to provide a unitary device.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

